Dr Kalina Zhekova
Biography
I am a Lecturer (Teaching) in Political Science, Departmental Graduate Tutor and Co-Director of the . I earned my PhD in Russian Foreign Policy and International Relations at the University of Leeds, and I completed an MA (Distinction) in International Politics at the University of Hull.
I work in the field of international studies, war and conflict, with particular focus on Russian approaches to military intervention and state sovereignty within and outside of the post-Soviet space. I have extensive responsibilities for educational provision, student support and academic progression. My work has been recognised as making an outstanding contribution to student learning and educational experience. I hold a Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Provost Education Award for Academic Support and two Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Social & Historical Sciences Faculty Education Awards.
Research
My current research focuses on Russian foreign policy and military interventions in the post-Soviet space and the Middle East, and Russian collective (mis-)conceptions of state sovereignty and relations with the West. I am interested in interpretivist and poststructuralist approaches to Russian politics, and I examine the development of external and internal threat constructions, notions of inter-ethnic identities and their mobilisation in the process of policymaking, war and violence. I apply this approach to the study of Russian armed interventions in Syria, Georgia and the war in Ukraine.
Podcast: Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Uncovering Politics
Hear Dr Zhekova speak about her research on the following podcast episode:
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Publications
- Journal articles
- Zhekova, Kalina. (2023)Â '' Europe-Asia Studies.
- Ralph, J., Holland, J. and Zhekova, K. (2017) ‘’, Review of International Studies, 43(5), pp. 875–897.
- Blog articles
- von Borzyskowski, I. and Zhekova, K. (2023) ‘’, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Education Conference.
Teaching
I lead a third-year undergraduate module informed by my research in Russian foreign policy: ‘Russia and the West: Conflicts and Interventions’ (POLS0105). I also teach two postgraduate methods modules: ‘Qualitative Methods: Texts and Images’ (PUBL0085) and ‘Qualitative Methods: Case Studies and Comparative Analysis’ (PUBL0086).
As CPP Co-Director, I lead a range of activities to support education-focused academics in conducting and disseminating pedagogical research. As Graduate Tutor, I have oversight and responsibility for pastoral care provision and academic support of all postgraduate students in the Department of Political Science. I previously served as Co-Director of the MSc programme in International Public Policy.